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Ctenopoma acutirostre

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Overview:

This is one of the most unique fish I have ever kept as far as behavior
is concerned. They will stake out a territory so caves and plenty of
hiding places should be provided. They are active during both day and
night and tend to be peaceful toward most other species of similar size.
They do not get along well with one other unless there is lots of space
and lots of different territory to claim. Also, species that look somewhat
similar in color should be avoided as the leopard ctenopoma may see
them as competition (i.e. certain species of cichlids that may have
dark spots like keyhole cichlids). This fish will often "yawn" and the
keeper can see the enormous mouth that this species possesses. It is
no wonder that most small fish end up as snacks! They are very personable
and will often swim to the front of the tank when there is activity
in the room and they can be trained to feed from your hand with blood
worms or pieces of earthworm.

This is a very beautiful fish that has a rounded or elliptical body
that is laterally compressed. The body is a golden/yellowish color
with many round or oddly shaped brown spots that create the "leopard"
look. They have an elongated snout, large mouth, large eyes and many
short spines on the dorsal fin.

Maintenance:
Minimum of 50 gallons as this fish can grow to 6 inches or so. The leopard
ctenopoma can adapt to a wide variety of water conditions, but regular
tank maintenance is required to keep nitrates in check to avoid unneeded
stress or disease. Temperature range: 68 to 77 degrees F is recommended.
Diet:
This fish will eat anything that fits into its mouth and loves to stalk
prey. The leopard ctenopoma can swallow fish up to nearly 1/3 of its
size so tank mates should be chosen carefully. To take in food, this
fish opens its mouth and sucks in swallowing the food whole. While hunting,
it turns its body completely vertical and bends it caudal tail to resemble
a leaf shape and to wait for an unsuspecting small fish to swim by.
The ctenopoma will eat tropical flakes and small pieces of vegetables,
but live or frozen foods should be provided as well as this fish prefers
"meatier" foods. Mine eats brine shrimp, blood worms, tropical flakes,
peas, tubifex worms, shrimp pellets, small feeder fish, etc.
Biotope:
Sluggish streams Central Africa full of vegetation along its home range.
Sexing:
These fish are difficult to sex, but the major difference between males
and females is that males have short spines on the gill covers while
females do not.
Breeding:
There has been little reported success in breeding this fish in captivity,
but they do not tend to their young so parents should be removed after
spawning. They are reported as egg scatterers or bubble nest builders,
but captive breeding is rare and not well documented.

Please remember that
the following comments are personal experiences and may or may
not apply to your setup. Use them as guide to help better understand
your fish, like us all individuals will behave differently under
different circumstances.

From: RodrigoDate:7/26/2015 I have 1 in a 55 gallon along 2 angels
and one south American puffer. He is not shy and controls the
whole tank. He is a bit of a bully and the angels are somewhat
afraid of him. All my small fish have disappeared, the last one
a molly was pretty big and gone overnight. But overall I am pretty
happy with this fish.
From: TrinaDate:2/11/2015 Hi, I've have 2 bush fish living in
a 200 litre tank with 3 opaline gourami, 2 long fin bristle nose
plecs and a short fin bristle nose plec. I have had them about
5 months now and around 3 and a half inches, I love them and could
sit and watch them all day, they get mixture of foods and eat
everything they are given. A friend of mine, also a fish keeper
of discus has ordered me 2 more for my aquarium, she has done
this without asking, although I have thought about getting more
I am now dubious as to whether this is a good idea due to their
territories, although mine are peaceful, I am worried they will
bully the newbies as they will obviously be smaller!
From: ToniDate:8/21/2012 I absolutely love mine. I have 3 purchased
around 1" now 3-4 ". They live peacefully in a 75g planted tank
with lots of hiding places. When I first bought them I gave them
newborn guppy fry but they did not eat them . The guppies grew
up with them and it wasn't till I removed the guppies I realized
how shy these guys are. So they got their guppy friends back and
are very happy/ outgoing again. They now will eat very young fry
but only at night (glad not to see it) .They mostly beg for me
to feed them and will eat from my fingers. They now live with
guppies, a small pompom goldfish,2 wildfin mollies,dwarf pleco
,corycats and ghost shrimp. . I feed them all kinds of frozen
fish food,live black worms,garden worms,guppy fry,cherry shrimp,fish
food. Mine are very peaceful with each other (all three hang together)and
are very comfortable touching bodies with their tankmates. Not
at all agressive so far.At feeding time they will always let someone
else grab the food. The seem to be very hardy.. I have hard water
..ph 7.8-8.0 temps vary 72-80. Definatly recomend!!! My favorite
freshwater fish!!
From: ZackDate:4/15/2012 I have 2 ctenopomas, and at first they
did not get along. Now, they are doing great with each other and
spend their rest hours in the same cover. I have ample coverage
with driftwood, both real and fake, rocks, and large plastic plants
provide lots of cover. They feed on freeze dried shrimp, sinking
catfish shrimp pellets, frozen blood worms, live mealworms, and
occasionally they will eat ghost shrimp when I get them. My larger
ctenopoma enjoys swimming in the current around my airstone, while
the smaller one prefers to remain in the cover of the driftwood.
I have no real biotope set up but the driftwood stained the water
and that has helped bring the fish "out of their shells."
From: TamaraDate:2/29/2012 I found all the information here very
helpful. I bought 1 "African leaf fish" as that's what it was
labeled at petsmart, and LOVE him! Super cute and did hide for
a while but he's great now and loves frozen blood worms and does
eat flake food as well. I didn't know that they were not good
as pairs before buying my 2nd one tonight... hopeful it all works
out :)
From: Josh NicholsDate:1/14/2010 I purchased one of these oddballs about
3 weeks ago. At first he or she, not quite sure yet, was very
skittish and would hide all the time. Never really came out. Now
its going on week 3 and "Spike" swims around all the time. More
so when I have the light off. I have been feeding Spike flake
food with the occasional brine shrimp cube. I think I'm going
to start feeding him some feeder guppies. Spike is now a good
4" versus the 3" he was when I bought him. Seems to be doing very
well. One of my favorite fish by far.
From: Ira RubinsonDate:1/17/2009 I bought my two Ctenopoma acutirostre
as an "African Leaf Fish" at Petco. 1.5 years later, one is the
same size as when I bought it; 3/4". The other is enormous: 4"
and inhales blood worm cubes in one gulp. I call it my finned
pig.